We have taken the first steps on the virtual collaboration project journey. Contact was made, channels of communication were set up, and a team agreement was established. Team 6 is off to a good start.
Although in its very early stages, this project has already brought with it a range of learning experiences.
The Importance of (virtual) Interpersonal Skills
The team have all come across really well, introducing themselves and encouraging each other to participate. With nine people on the team, conversation and ideas are flowing and I already feel at ease with the positive attitude and friendliness on display. However, the size of the group (and the vast distance between us) brings its own difficulties.
We started our communication via e-mail and everyone seemed willing to participate and engage in conversation. We changed over to Slack (a collaborative tool) to continue the conversation and start making some concrete decisions. Getting everyone online at the same time has proved difficult, which is to be expected when the team is situated across three time zones.
A Reluctant Leader
Team leadership was the first decision we were eager make. However, nobody was as eager to volunteer for the role. While having a leader was not compulsory, it was strongly advised. I don’t believe I’m a natural leader by a long-shot, but I have some experience with leading teams and projects. I, somewhat reluctantly, stepped up.
Our first virtual meeting highlighted the need for a leader. The team agreement was on the agenda and a lot of decisions regarding roles, preferred technologies, and communication methods, had to be made. Overall, the meeting was a very positive experience, with each member bursting with ideas and willing to volunteer themselves for roles. However, this enthusiasm would, at times, spill over and messages were beginning to get lost in the conversation. Having a leader enabled the group to stay on task and ensure that everyone’s voice was heard; not an easy task with nine people participating in a very fast-paced chat. I am ashamed to say that I, on occasion, cut across somebody else’s idea because I had not seen it on time. However, I am not complaining about this apparent willingness to participate and eagerness to work together. I think it reflects well on the team as a whole.
By the end, we were satisfied with the decisions we had made. At one stage, a member commented on our strong ability to convey our ideas clearly and efficiently. Well, we are technical writers, after all.
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